Cold war brews between Mancherial, Nirmal Collectors and Telangana forest staff over farmers’ rights

Tensions rise over night restrictions in Kawal Tiger Reserve, toll collection, hut demolitions. Political intervention adds fuel, with forest staff claiming they’re enforcing law amid growing criticism

Adilabad: An unprecedented cold war is brewing between the district administration and Forest Department across the erstwhile Adilabad district.

Mancherial Collector Kumar Deepak recently instructed police officials to register cases against forest personnel for allegedly harassing farmers cultivating forest land in Vemanapalli mandal. However, the police, after probing the allegations, recommended that the administration conduct a joint survey involving both the Forest and Revenue departments to resolve the issue amicably.

---

Similarly, Nirmal Collector Abhilasha Abhinav reportedly directed forest officials to withdraw an order restricting vehicular movement through the Kawal Tiger Reserve. The order, imposed in view of increased tiger activity in the area, barred movement from 9 pm to 6 am. Locals expressed concern over the restrictions, citing inconvenience.

District authorities also objected to the Forest Department collecting toll tax from motorists using roads passing through Kawal, arguing that forest officials were not authorised to collect tolls on roads constructed and maintained by the Roads and Buildings Department. The administration is said to have sought proof of any government order permitting such toll collection.

The Forest Department also faced criticism for removing 22 huts allegedly erected illegally by tribal families inside the core area of Kawal. The demolition followed a complaint lodged by a local resident with Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) RM Dobriyal. While forest officials acted based on the complaint, the move drew widespread criticism.

Khanapur MLA and State Board for Wildlife member Vedma Bojju voiced displeasure over the restrictions in Kawal and the demolition of huts. He reportedly brought the matter to the notice of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who is said to have assured action to ease vehicular movement in the reserve at night.

Sources indicated that the district administration, under pressure from local public representatives, has been instructing police and revenue officials to file cases against forest staff, accusing them of causing inconvenience to farmers in the name of plantation drives on disputed land. Forest officials, meanwhile, maintain that they are merely enforcing forest conservation laws and are being unfairly targeted.